--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was Hurricane Sandy that not only…" description: "\"It was Hurricane Sandy that not only decimated parts of my district but pushed me to the brink of my frustrations with the game of politics. In the fal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jon-runyan-30713_been_it-was-hurricane-sandy-that-not-only-dec_587309.jpg" --- # It was Hurricane Sandy that not only decimated parts of my… ![“It was Hurricane Sandy that not only decimated parts of my district but pushed me to the brink of my frustrations with the game of politics. In the fall of 2012, in the immediate wake of Sandy, I suspended my congressional reelection campaign and got to work helping those folks in South Jersey…” quote by Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jon-runyan-30713_been_it-was-hurricane-sandy-that-not-only-dec_587309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jon-runyan-30713_been_it-was-hurricane-sandy-that-not-only-dec_587309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jon-runyan-30713_been_it-was-hurricane-sandy-that-not-only-dec_587309.jpg) > “It was Hurricane Sandy that not only decimated parts of my district but pushed me to the brink of my frustrations with the game of politics. In the fall of 2012, in the immediate wake of Sandy, I suspended my congressional reelection campaign and got to work helping those folks in South Jersey whose lives had been turned upside down by the storm.” [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The storm exposed political frustrations, prompting a pause in the campaign to focus on disaster relief for constituents. **In simple terms:** Storm caused frustration, leading to campaign pause and relief work. Key Takeaway Prioritize community needs over personal ambition. Themes politics disaster response public service Mood determined empathetic Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - campaign suspension - volunteer relief - constituent assistance - policy advocacy Key Concepts civic duty resilience leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do leaders balance personal ambition with emergency response? - What long‑term policies can prevent similar crises? A Different Perspective Balancing personal goals with crisis demands can be politically risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frustrations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrations/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Hurricane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurricane/) [Hurricane sandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurricane-sandy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“And if happiness were common, it would preserve itself, because appeals to hatred and fear, which now constitute almost the whole of politics would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/and-if-happiness-were-common-it-would-preserve-itself-because-appeals/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's been fascinating over the last few years, watching the high and mighty in business and politics fall precipitously-not because their plans didn't work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/it-s-been-fascinating-over-the-last-few-years-watching-the-high-and/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Somebody start talking about politics so I can fall back asleep...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-underwood/somebody-start-talking-about-politics-so-i-can-fall-back-asleep/) [Sara Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-underwood/) > [I make lists to keep my anxiety level down. If I write down 15 things to be done, I lose that vague, nagging sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/i-make-lists-to-keep-my-anxiety-level-down-if-i-write-down-15-things/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Bipartisanship has taken us to the brink of bankruptcy. We don't need bipartisanship, we need application of principle... 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'Brink of Life'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/bergman-movies-were-the-most-influential-they-used-to-show-at-goucher/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I always think that good writers should be growing up on the brink of death - it really lets them see mortality very clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/i-always-think-that-good-writers-should-be-growing-up-on-the-brink-of/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I wonder how many times people give up just before a breakthrough - when they are on the very brink of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-wonder-how-many-times-people-give-up-just-before-a-breakthrough/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We're on the cusp, on the brink, of enormous change in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-granholm/we-re-on-the-cusp-on-the-brink-of-enormous-change-in-this-country/) [Jennifer Granholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-granholm/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) ## More by Jon Runyan > [I always step back and look at - you know, look at my background in playing team sports my whole life and taking that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-always-step-back-and-look-at-you-know-look-at-my-background-in/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [It's been in the back of my head for five or six years, but more on the local level to get involved and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/it-s-been-in-the-back-of-my-head-for-five-or-six-years-but-more-on/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I take ownership of every mistake I've ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-take-ownership-of-every-mistake-i-ve-ever-made/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [When I decided to run for Congress, I saw it as an opportunity to serve the South Jersey community that had become my home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/when-i-decided-to-run-for-congress-i-saw-it-as-an-opportunity-to/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [A lot of people are in politics to make friends, too, instead of making positive change. 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And with work ethic, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/ive-been-blessed-with-a-lot-of-great-things-in-my-life-and-one-of/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [The biggest change we have to tackle that's out there is that we're digging the hole deeper and deeper and spending is totally out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/the-biggest-change-we-have-to-tackle-that-s-out-there-is-that-we-re/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [People have challenged me all my life, told me I wasn't fast enough, wasn't smart enough, but you know what? No one's ever outworked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/people-have-challenged-me-all-my-life-told-me-i-wasn-t-fast-enough/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I've been blessed with a lot of great things in my life, and one of them was work ethic. And with work ethic, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-ve-been-blessed-with-a-lot-of-great-things-in-my-life-and-one-of/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [Believe it or not, there are members of Congress who actually want to govern and get stuff done. Unfortunately, there are others whose agendas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/believe-it-or-not-there-are-members-of-congress-who-actually-want-to/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I tell you how I feel and how we're going to solve it. That's my unique personality and that's how I carry myself. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-tell-you-how-i-feel-and-how-we-re-going-to-solve-it-that-s-my/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I think the Jets came in with a legitimate offer. At that point, I hadn't had one from the Eagles. I had to think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-think-the-jets-came-in-with-a-legitimate-offer-at-that-point-i-hadn/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [South Jersey is home to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, one of the finest military installations in the world, and it was my honor to represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/south-jersey-is-home-to-joint-base-mcguire-dix-lakehurst-one-of-the/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [When you look at my campaign, I don't go around sugarcoating things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/when-you-look-at-my-campaign-i-don-t-go-around-sugarcoating-things/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) [Explore all 17 Jon Runyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. 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